Three members of the same family have reportedly been kidnapped by suspected bandits in the Agboro community in Kwara State’s Patigi local government area.
However, in the vicinity of Gatawa village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma initiated a rapid-response operation to thwart a terrorist attack.
Investigations reveal that the victims in Kwara were kidnapped on Sunday while returning from a visit of condolences to a family member who had died a few days prior.
Journalists in Ilorin were informed by sources yesterday that the victims’ identities include Ayomide Moses, the deceased’s son, and Abiodun Abidemi and Abiodun Olumide, the deceased’s brothers.
According to sources, the victims were indigenous people from the local government’s Agboro community.
The three victims were reportedly abducted on that fateful day at around seven in the morning.
It was also discovered that the victims’ families have not yet been contacted by the suspected bandits, however sources claimed that they have transported the victims to Isanlu in Kogi State.
However, in an interview with reporters on Monday, a senior police officer from the Patigi Divisional Police Headquarters in Patigi, who wished to remain anonymous, verified the occurrence. However, Mr. Adekimi Ojo, the commissioner of state police, refuted the story, stating, “I am not aware ooo, I am not aware.”
In the meantime, the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma forces initiated a quick-reaction operation close to Gatawa village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, preventing a terrorist strike.
A group of armed bandits had opened fire on a local vigilance group, but the soldiers acted on intelligence and stopped them before they could enter the hamlet. According to a security source who wished to remain anonymous, the region was “stable and under control” as a result of the quick military operation.
The bandits fired intermittently at the villagers and the vigilantes during the encounter, which happened at midnight. After being shot, four members of the neighborhood vigilante group were transported to a local hospital for medical attention.
No civilian deaths were reported throughout the conflict, and their condition is reportedly getting better.
A rumor started spreading on social media during the army’s intervention that a mosque in Sabon Birni had been attacked, murdering an Imam and several worshippers while others were supposedly kidnapped. Local authorities responded to the false information as soon as the story gained popularity.
Speaking to reporters, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, the chairman of Sabon Birni LGA, vehemently rejected the attack on the mosque. “I am not aware of any mosque that was attacked, let alone one where an imam or congregants were killed. He emphasized that no such incident took place in his jurisdiction and declared, “The story is false.”
The denial was also reiterated by Alhaji Aminu Boza, a local legislator who represents Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly. “I’m not sure how they obtained their story, but it’s untrue. Boza told reporters that “no mosque was attacked by bandits,” advising people to double-check information before disseminating it.
The officials’ remarks coincide with a larger initiative by Sokoto authorities to stop the propagation of misleading tales that frequently increase anxiety in already unstable areas. Hashimu and Boza both urged responsible reporting and cautioned that false information may impede continued security efforts.
The bandits engaged in the Gatawa raid were a part of a wider network that has been active in the Sabon Birni forest zone, according to the military source. Following the army’s prompt action, the attackers retreated along the Dan-Kamarawa corridor, and troops are now on follow-up patrols to deter future attacks.
This event is the most recent in a string of bandit attacks that have afflicted the eastern areas of Sokoto. In a separate clearance operation earlier this year, the army killed infamous bandit lord Dan Dari Biyar, severely harming the local criminal syndicate.
Gatawa residents were relieved that a more serious catastrophe was avoided thanks to the army’s prompt action. “The military arrived within minutes after we heard gunshots. “They saved our village,” a citizen who wished to remain anonymous stated.
In an effort to destroy bandit strongholds and rebuild public trust, the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma has increased its presence in Sokoto. During a recent visit to the 248 Recce Battalion in Illela, Major General Idris Warrah, the operation’s commander, urged the soldiers to “crush the terrorists” and promised better benefits.
Although military pressure and community collaboration have started to produce results, security analysts emphasized that the threat still exists.
According to a regional security expert who wished to remain anonymous, “sustained operations are essential because bandits adapt quickly.”
The Sokoto State administration has promised to back the military’s operations in the wake of the Gatawa raid, particularly by offering logistical support and arming and training local vigilante organizations.
The difficulty of distinguishing reality from fiction in war areas is highlighted by local officials’ denial of the mosque attack. Particularly on digital platforms, false information can spread quickly and frequently causes fear. Authorities are advising the public to trust reputable sources, including official press releases or army pronouncements.
In the meantime, the financial networks that support banditry have been disrupted by the Sokoto police. The bandits’ logistical skills have been severely undermined in recent weeks with the arrest of three suspected financiers and the recovery of stolen motorcycles and rustled cattle.
Sabon Birni is still on high alert, and locals are urged to notify security services of any suspicious behavior. In order to prevent more attacks, the army has promised to keep troops in the region.
Rebuilding confidence between the local population and security forces is now the main priority as the Gatawa encounter comes to an end. A glimmer of hope for stability in the area is provided by the bandits’ effective rejection and the officials’ prompt repudiation of the mosque story.
